As global water shortages intensify and environmental protection policies continue to increase, the water treatment chemicals industry is ushering in structural changes. According to the latest report from Fortune Business Insights, the global water treatment chemicals market size will exceed US$42 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$62 billion in 2030, with an average annual compound growth rate of 6.8%.

Policies force the industry to upgrade

Driven by the EU's "Zero Discharge of Industrial Wastewater Act" and China's "14th Five-Year Plan" water-saving society construction plan, the market share of environmentally friendly polymers has grown rapidly, accounting for 38% in 2024, an increase of 15 percentage points from 2020. With strict EPA standards, North America has become a research and development center for green water treatment technology, occupying 45% of the global high-end market.

Industrial demand surges

Energy, electronics, and pharmaceuticals are the main growth engines. The demand for high-salt wastewater treatment generated by shale gas extraction has driven the annual demand for reverse osmosis scale inhibitors to exceed 120,000 tons; the upgrade of ultrapure water preparation technology in semiconductor manufacturing has driven the price premium of electronic-grade water treatment chemicals to 3-5 times that of conventional products. It is worth noting that the Asia-Pacific region contributes 56% of the global market growth, and emerging industrial countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam will surge 72% in chemical imports in 2024 compared with the same period last year.

Technological iteration reshapes the industrial landscape

The industry presents three major development trends:

1. Acceleration of green substitution

2. Intelligent penetration

3. Transformation of service models

Industry insiders pointed out that the water treatment chemicals industry will expand to a greater extent in the future and will face more stringent carbon footprint verification. Companies with biodegradability certification and carbon capture technology are expected to seize the initiative, while small and medium-sized manufacturers relying on traditional processes may face 20%-30% of production capacity clearance pressure. Under the dual effects of technological revolution and policy drive, the industry reshuffle has entered the deep water zone.